Inventory of the Bill Craven Papers

Processed by Justin C. Salenik

California State Archives

1020 "O" Street

Sacramento, California 95814

Phone: (916) 653-2246

Fax: (916) 653-7363

Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov

URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/

Inventory of the Bill Craven Papers

Collection number: LP376

California State Archives

Office of the Secretary of State

Sacramento, California

Processed by:: Justin C. Salenik
Date Completed:: October 2007
Encoded by:: Jessica Knox

Descriptive Summary

Title: Bill Craven Papers

Dates: 1974-1998

Collection number: LP376

Creator: Bill Craven, California Legislator

Collection Size: 12 cubic feet

Repository: California State Archives

Sacramento, California

Abstract: Bill Craven, Republican, was a California State Assembly Member from 1974-1978, representing the 80th Assembly District from 1974-1975 then the 76th Assembly District. The Bill Craven Papers consist of 12 cubic feet of records reflecting Craven's activities during his Assembly and Senate career. The collection contains Bill Files, 1974-1998.

Physical location: California State Archives

Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Administrative Information

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Bill Craven Papers, LP376:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Acquisition and Custodial History

The California State Archives acquired the Bill Craven Papers following his final term in the State Legislature.

Biography

Bill Craven, Republican, was a California State Assembly Member from 1974-1978, representing the 80th Assembly District from 1974-1975 then the 76th Assembly District. The 76th Assembly District included the cities of La Jolla, Carlsbad, Escondido, and Poway. In 1979, Craven was elected to the California State Senate, representing the 38th Senate District. This district included the cities of Laguna Nigiel, Vista, San Marcos, and Escondido.

Bill Craven was born on June 30, 1921 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Villanova University in Philadelphia with a Bachelors of Science degree. He later received an honorary LL.B.Degree from National University.

Craven enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and was commissioned eighteen months later. He was attached to the battalion that raised the flag atop Mt. Surabachi on Iwo Jima. Separated from service in 1946, he was recalled in 1950 for three more years and finished his military career with the rank of major.

After completing his military career, Craven took a post as general manager of a concessions firm in Los Angeles. His earlier work in radio and television led him to become a copywriter for an advertising firm. He later went on to become City Manager for the City of San Marcos.

In 1970, he became the first San Diego County employee to be elected to the County Board of Supervisors. In 1973, he won a special election for the 80th Assembly District seat after Assemblymember John Stull moved to the California State Senate. In 1976, Craven won the 76th Assembly District seat.

As an Assembly Member and Senator, Craven's interests were local government, tax reform, coastal protection, campaign advertising, and mobile home regulations. One of his most notable accomplishments was the creation of California Sate University, San Marcos.

Aside from being a senator, Craven was active in the U.S. Jaycees. He served as their National Director and was honored with their Distinguished Service Award. Senator Craven died in 1999 at the age of 78. He was survived by Marion, his wife of 55 years and his children, John, William Jr. and Tricia.

According to the California Legislature at Sacramento (Handbooks) and the California Blue Book, Craven served on the following committees:

State Assembly, 1974-1978

Standing and Interim Committees
Labor Relations, 1975
Local Government, 1975-1978
*Chair, 1976-1978
Public Employment and Retirement, 1975-1978
Education, 1978
Subcommittees
Industrial Safety, 1975-1976
Retirement, 1977-1978
Select Committees
Select Committee on Coastal Zone Resources, 1975

State Senate, 1990-1996

Standing and Interim Committees
Local Government, 1979-1998
*Chair, 1995-1998
Agriculture and Water Resources, 1979-1998
*Vice Chair, 1979
Business and Professions, 1979-1998
Elections and Reapportionment, 1979-1998
*Vice Chair, 1980-1998
Rules, 1981-1994
*Vice Chair, 1985-1994
Subcommittees
Mobile Home Problems, 1979-1982
*Chair, 1979-1982
Infrastructure and Public Works, 1983-1986
Redevelopment of Antiquated Subdivisions, 1985-1989
Agricultural Lands, 1989-1995
Dairy Practices and Marketing, 1983-1995
Economic Problems Facing Agriculture, 1983-1995
Agricultural Lands, 1985-1988
Water Marketing, 1985-1995
Sports, 1987-1995
Prescription Drugs, 1989
Census, 1989
Select Committees
Political Reform Act of 1974, 1980
Mobile Homes, 1983-1998
*Chair, 1983
Licensed and Designated Sports, 1983-1986
Business Development, 1984-1996
Citizen Participation in Government, 1984-1998
Substance Abuse, 1987
Health Hazards of the Workplace, 1989-1990
Maritime Industry, 1989-1998
Economic Development and Technology, 1993-1998
Redevelopment, 1996
Voting Practices and Procedure, 1994-1996
*Vice Chair, 1994
Taxation on Oil and Minerals, 1983
Joint Committees
Arts, 1984-1998
Quincentennial of the Voyage of Columbus, 1989-1992
Fire, Police, Emergency and Disaster Services, 1989
Committee on Legislative Ethics, 1991-1995
*Vice Chair, 1991-1992
Legislative Retirement, 1983-1989
*Chair, 1989
Refugee Resettlement and International Migration, 1983-1989
Courthouse Financing and Construction, 1990
Additional Committees
Research Committee on Neighborhood Violence, 1989
Special Committee on Border Issues, 1991-1992
*Chair, 1991-1992
Commission on the Californias, 1979-1986
Commission for Economic Development, 1984-1988

Scope and Content

The Bill Craven Papers consist of 12 cubic feet of records reflecting Craven's activities during his Assembly and Senate career. The collection contains Bill Files, 1974-1998.

The bill files document Craven's legislative activity during his term as a member of the California State Legislature. While the bills introduced by Bill Craven include a wide array of subjects, his primary concerns included mobile home regulation, local government, and coastal land protection. Noteworthy bills include SB1309 of 1994 which created the crime of aggravated arson, SB1585 of 1995 that eased regulations on mobile home parks that want to become senior citizen only, SB310 of 1995 that aides the conversion of mobile home parks to resident owned parks, and SB360 of 1988 that created a California State University campus in San Marcos.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Craven, William A.

Local government

Mobile homes Law and legislation

LP376:1-294

Series 1 Bill Files 1974-1998

Physical Description: 294 file folders

Arrangement

Bill files are arranged chronologically by legislative session and then numerically by bill number.

Scope and Content Note

Bill files were created by Bill Craven while he served as Assembly Member and State Senator, 1974-1998. The files may include bill analyses, amendments and resolutions, author's statements, testimony, press releases, newspaper clippings and correspondence. Topics covered in these files include mobile homes, local government, campaign reform, and coastal land protection.

1974: AB2751-AB3904 (8ff) LP376: 1-8

1975-1976: AB208-AB4515, ACA15, AJR15, AJR81 (28ff) LP376: 9-36

1977-1978: AB34-AB3708 (25ff) LP376: 37-61

1979-1980: SB141-SB1941, SCA26, SCR29, SJR15-SJR25 (30ff) LP376: 62-91

1981-1982: SB13-SB1901, SCR54, SJR30-SJR34 (24ff) LP376: 92-115

1983-1984: SB75-SB2250, SCA54 (23ff) LP376: 116-138

1985-1986: SB52-SB2590, SCR45 (45ff) LP376: 139-173

1987-1988: SB21-SB2722, SCR60 (25ff) LP376: 174-198

1989-1990: SB42-SB2881, SCR40-SCR68, SJR1, SJR25 (29ff) LP376: 199-227

1991-1992: SB132-SB1975, SJR21 (22ff) LP376: 228-249

1993-1994: SB6-SB1664 (13ff) LP376: 250-262

1995-1996: SB53-SB1945, SJR45, SB10X, SB12XX-SB18XX (25ff) LP376: 263-287

1997-1998: SB104-SB2101, SCR38 (7ff) LP376: 288-294